Wolf Pack's Wilkie Loaned To Houston

October 07, 1999|By BRUCE BERLET; Courant Staff Writer

The Rangers loaned Wolf Pack defenseman David Wilkie to Houston of the Central Hockey League Wednesday.

Wilkie,signed as a free agent Sept. 29 after spending last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Cleveland in the IHL,became expendable after veteran defenseman John Namestnikov was reclaimed on waivers from Vancouver on Tuesday. Namestnikov skated with the Wolf Pack Wednesday in their first workout at their new practice home, Champions Skating Center in Cromwell.

Namestnikov became the Wolf Pack's sixth player, the most allowed, with more than 260 games as a pro. The others are centers Derek Armstrong and Alexandre Daigle, right wing Brad Smyth and defensemen Terry Virtue and Drew Bannister, signed Sunday by the Rangers. Captain/forward Ken Gernander is the Wolf Pack's exemption -- a player with more than 450 games in the AHL.

The Wolf Pack still have eight defenseman among their 25 healthy players, including Dale Purinton, who has to sit out the second game of a two-game suspension Friday in Providence for a high-sticking match penalty in an exhibition game. He will be eligible to play Saturday in Lowell.